Estate once part of Washington’s Mount Vernon for sale

A piece of Americana once owned by President George Washington could be yours, but be prepared to pay at least $25 million for it.

TTR Sotheby’s International Realty is seeking buyers for a 16.5-acre waterfront site in Fairfax County that once was part of Washington’s sprawling Mount Vernon estate. TTR is marketing the property on behalf of retired developer Jerry Halpin, founder of West-Group Management LLC, the property’s third owner since Washington.

Washington, back in the day, was known to ride horseback across the property and along the Potomac River to unwind, according to TTR Managing Partner Mark Lowham. Washington’s family owned the property, which TTR is marketing as the River View Estate, until 1859.

Halpin, 90, wants to sell the estate because he plans to move to Jackson Hole, Wyo., this summer.

TTR was retained about a month ago to market the property, at 7979 E. Boulevard Drive, and Lowham said more than 10,000 people from across the globe have viewed a video of the site, compared with the average TTR video viewership of about 300-400.

He expects the property to fetch in excess of the $25 million asking price when it’s all said and done.

“We have inquiries from literally around the world,” Lowham said. “The interest, I would say, has been strong, and I think it will set a record for whatever it sells for.”

The property — actually three separate parcels that Halpin hopes to sell as a package — is reasonably well-kept for its age. The estate’s main house, a 6,000-square-foot concrete structure built in 1914, is in good shape but could use some improvement by people willing to put in a little sweat equity.

There is also a carriage house that’s been converted into a four-car garage and a smaller guest house that was one of the early Sears, Roebuck & Co. kit houses.

The property also boasts more than 380 feet of frontage overlooking the Potomac. There are no conservation easements, according to TTR, meaning there is a chance the property could be part of a future development or subdivision.